It sounds like you are doing everything in your power to take care of your loans. I don’t know every detail of your situation, so I can only offer broad tips. My recommendation is to go through your budget and try to eliminate any unnecessary expenses. It may even take a substantial action such as downsizing your living accommodations, selling your car and buying a less expensive vehicle or using public transportation, trying to find a better paying full-time or part-time job, etc.

I know these are not easy items to accomplish, but it may take this type of dramatic action to gain ground. Finally, I recommend looking into changing the way you handle money. A very popular and effective money management plan is outlined in Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. This part of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, which is a 13 week course on how to better manage your money, get out of debt, and achieve financial freedom. I recommend it if you have the opportunity.

Second, why has no one mentioned that the interest on student loan debt is deductible, and above the line at that? It may be costing you less than you think.

Make a plan to save and pay a good chuck. This small of a debt is something you can plan out to pay over a year or so and get done, while still having money for a reasonable lifestyle, money to help your girlfriend with expenses, and money to give you peace of mind should something happen.

Only if the interest rate were very high (over 9% say) would I be swayed to focus on paying it down. I would still want to build up the emergency fund but I would do so more slowly in order to pay down a high interest rate date (certainly at rates over 15% I would do so at the expense of any significant emergency fund savings).

If the savings becomes large enough, crush the debt balance in one shot . . .